The Wake Correctional Center, a Raleigh-based facility housing about 400 male offenders, is on track to receive accreditation from the American Correctional Association (ACA). Auditors from the ACA have recommended that the minimum custody facility, following a series of inspections from last Monday to last Wednesday, be awarded this notable distinction.
The thorough evaluation process concluded that the center had met 100% of mandatory and 98.75% of non-mandatory practices. To formally be granted accreditation, the ACA Commission on Accreditation for Corrections will need to still vote on the matter at an upcoming meeting. This recognition is part of the N.C. Department of Adult Correction's (NCDAC) larger goal to hastily secure such accreditation for all its facilities and operations, as mentioned in a report published by the Department of Adult Correction.
Interim Warden Anecia Johnson expressed great pride in the commitment demonstrated by the staff of Wake Correctional, noting their hard work toward making this accomplishment a reality. "I'm very proud of the dedicated staff of Wake Correctional Center, who worked long and hard to make this accomplishment a reality," she said in a statement issued by the Department of Adult Correction.
The accreditation process is a meticulous one, involving visual inspections and the review of facility policies and procedures over a three-day period. The auditing team's task is to thoroughly ensure that the operations of the facility seamlessly meet, and possibly exceed, correctional best practices. These assessments are part of the ACA's endeavor to not just maintain, but to possibly improve facility functions like staff and offender safety, staff morale, record-keeping, and data management.
Beyond its role as a correctional institution, Wake Correctional also functions as a re-entry facility, preparing inmates with short-term sentences for their imminent return to the community. These individuals typically engage in full-time work outside the facility with private or government employers, as part of their rehabilitation and reintegration process.
